Sell gift cards online: more revenue before every holiday
How to sell gift cards online for your salon or clinic: amount vs service cards, scheduled delivery, printed cards, expiry, accounting basics and a holiday campaign calendar.
Gift cards are a rare kind of sale: the client pays you today, a new person walks through your door later, and some value is never redeemed. If you sell gift cards online, you can earn this revenue around the clock, especially before holidays when people are looking for a gift that is not another candle.
Why gift cards are worth it
- Cash arrives before the service is delivered.
- Recipients are often new clients, who may become regulars.
- Many people spend more than the card value on the day.
- Online sales work while you are busy with clients.
Amount cards vs service cards
| Type | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Amount card (for example 50 or 100) | The recipient chooses the treatment | Flexibility, last-minute gifts |
| Service card (for example "Facial 60 min") | Tied to a specific treatment | Clear, premium-feeling gifts; protects against price changes |
Offer both. A few fixed amounts (say 30, 50, 100) plus a custom amount covers most buyers. Service cards work well for your signature treatments.
Sell it where people already look
- A visible "Gift cards" button on your booking page and website.
- A link in your Instagram bio and Facebook page during campaigns. See Instagram and Facebook booking links.
- A card or sign at the reception desk.
- An email to your client list two to three weeks before each holiday.
Delivery: digital, scheduled or printed
- Email or SMS now: perfect for last-minute buyers.
- Scheduled sending: lets the buyer purchase today and have it delivered on the birthday or Christmas morning.
- Print-ready PDF: buyers can print it and wrap it.
- Professionally printed cards: feel premium and are good for corporate gifts and in-store sales.
Always include a short personal message field and a clear way to see the balance.
Expiry and consumer rules
Many countries have rules on how long a gift card must remain valid, or whether expiry is allowed at all. Check your local consumer rules before choosing a validity period, and state it clearly on the card and at the point of sale. A long, generous validity period reduces complaints.
Accounting basics
As general practice, a gift card is a liability until it is redeemed: you owe the holder a service or money, so it is not revenue until used. How and when VAT or sales tax is handled depends on the type of card and your country, so ask your accountant how to book sales and redemptions. Keep a record of issued, redeemed and outstanding cards.
A campaign calendar
| When | Idea |
|---|---|
| Valentine's Day (14 February) | Couples' treatments and "treat yourself" cards |
| Mother's Day | Check the local date, which differs by country; start promoting 3 weeks before |
| Father's Day | Barber, grooming and massage cards |
| Summer | Pre-holiday grooming, "thank you teacher" gifts |
| Black Friday | Add a small bonus, for example buy 100, get 110 |
| Christmas | The big one: start in early November and send the last reminder a few days before delivery cut-offs |
| Birthdays and thank-you | Year-round, always visible on your booking page |
Sell more by adding a small bonus rather than a discount: a 100 card that comes with a 10 bonus feels more generous than a 10% reduction, and the bonus is only redeemed on a future visit.
How to do this in Calendia
Calendia gift cards can be for an amount or for a specific service. They can be sent by email or SMS right away or scheduled for a date, sold on your public booking page, and given an expiry setting. You can use a print-ready PDF or order professionally printed cards, and redeem them at the register. Everything is in gift cards. To bring gift card buyers back for a second visit, combine them with loyalty and stamp cards, and promote your sales with a campaign.
Questions and answers
Should gift cards expire?
That depends on local consumer rules, which vary. If expiry is allowed, a long validity period is both fairer and easier to defend.
How do I record gift card sales in my accounts?
Generally, an unredeemed card is a liability and the revenue is recognised when it is used. Ask your accountant how it applies in your country.
How early should I start promoting before Christmas?
Start in early November, send a reminder email mid-December, and keep selling digital cards up to the last days because they arrive instantly.
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